rdered his attendants to go to the assistance of the Marquis.
While Jack was being taken out of the water, Puss ran to the King
and told him that some robbers had run off with his master's clothes
whilst he was bathing, the truth of the matter being that the cunning
cat had hidden them under a stone.

On hearing this story the King instantly despatched one of his grooms
to fetch a handsome suit of purple and gold from the royal wardrobe,
and arrayed in this, Jack, who was a fine, handsome fellow, looked
so well that no one for a moment supposed but that he was some noble
foreign lord.

The King and his daughter were so pleased with his appearance that
they invited him into their carriage. At first Jack hesitated, for he
felt a little shy about sitting next to a Princess, but she smiled at
him so sweetly, and was so kind and gentle, that he soon forgot his
fears and fell in love with her there and then.

As soon as Puss had seen his master seated in the royal carriage, he
whispered directions to the coachman, and then ran on ahead as fast
as he could trot, until he came to a field of corn, where the reapers
were busy.

"Reapers," said he fiercely, "the King will shortly pass this way. If
he should ask you to whom this field belongs, remember that you say,
'To the Marquis of Carabas.' If you dare to disobey me, I will have
you all chopped up as fine as mincemeat." The reapers were so afraid
the cat would keep his word that they promised to obey. Puss then
ran on and told all the other laborers whom he met to give the same
answer, threatening them with terrible punishments if they disobeyed.

Now, the King was in a very good humor, for the day was fine, and he
found the Marquis a very pleasant companion, so he told the coachman
to drive slowly, in order that he might admire the beautiful country.
"What a fine field of wheat!" he said presently. "To whom does it
belong?" Then the men answered as they had been told: "To our Lord the
Marquis of Carabas." Next they met a herd of cattle, and again to the
King's question, "To whom do they belong?" they were told, "To the
Marquis of Carabas." And it was the same with everything they passed.

The Marquis listened with the greatest astonishment, and thought what
a very wonderful cat his dear Puss was; and the King was delighted to
find that his new friend was as wealthy as he was charming.

Meanwhile Puss, who was well in advance of the Royal party, had
arrived at a stately